Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
28 Comments Sep 16, 2023
Updated Aug 15, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A handful of sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and butter meet heavy cream, and spices for the most delicious Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes ever!
Featured Comment
Love this recipe and make it every year for Thanksgiving now!
– aShley
Most sweet potato recipes use the stovetop or oven, but this one is made entirely in the slow cooker—no boiling or long baking required. Perfect for holiday meals, these mashed sweet potatoes cook alongside your other crockpot dishes and can be finished with your favorite toppings.
Key Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes: You’ll only need about 6 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced. It should be roughly 7 cups when measured.
- Butter: I prefer to use salted butter.
- Water: Although this recipe calls for water, you can also use apple juice.
- Maple Syrup: Using syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Heavy Cream: Adding this towards the end will help make the sweet potatoes creamy.
- Seasonings: Ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt are all you need to finish up these delicious sweet mashed potatoes.
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker
- Prep the sweet potatoes and place them in the slow cooker with the starting ingredients.
- Slow cook until everything is soft and ready to blend.
- Add the finishing touches and mash to your desired texture.
Tips & Variations
Liquid Swap: You can try coconut milk or chicken broth instead of water or apple juice.
No Potato Masher? The next best (and easiest appliance) to use instead of a masher would be an electric hand mixer (or stand electric mixer). Either one will work fine.
Make-Ahead – Prepare a day ahead and reheat on the stove-top, adding a splash of cream if needed.
How to Serve Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Toppings: Add a pat of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or top with chopped pecans for crunch. For extra sweetness, try mini marshmallows or brown sugar. For a tangy contrast, mix in a bit of Greek yogurt or sour cream before serving.
- Mains: Serve these with Crockpot Turkey Breast, or Crockpot Spiral Ham.
- Other Sides: Other perfect holiday sides are Green Bean Casserole, and Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, and Candied Carrots.
Instant Pot Directions
For Instant Pot, add diced sweet potatoes, butter, and 1 cup water or apple juice. Seal and cook on high pressure for 8–10 minutes, then quick release. Drain if needed, stir in maple syrup, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and mash until smooth.
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
How to Video
Ingredients
- 6 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (this was about 7 cups, measured)
- 1/2 cup salted butter, 1 stick
- 1/4 cup water or apple juice
Add these items at the end
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Add the peeled and diced sweet potatoes to the slow cooker. Slice the butter and place on top. Pour over the water.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is done, add the maple syrup, heavy cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth OR use a potato masher and mash by hand.
- Serve with additional butter if desired.
- Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- Store any remaining sweet potatoes in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You can keep these potatoes on warm for a few hours. You may need to add a splash of water to keep them moist; be sure to stir occasionally.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Crockpot Holiday Sides
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole are cozy, seasonal favorites.
Slow Cooker Acorn Squash and Baked Sweet Potatoes make delicious, easy sides.
Crockpot Cranberry Sauce and Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes are perfect for holiday meals.
Can I make this one day ahead? If so, how do I reheat it …. or, can I reheat it in the crock pot?
I have not tried making this ahead. I apologize. I do think it would do well. You can reheat in the crockpot but it will take a while, like 1.5 hours.
Is it alright if the maple syrup is left out?
Yes, it will work great still.
Amazing however it doesn’t serve very many so I double everything and it turned out great
Can these be made ahead of time and reheated?
Yes, that will work fine.
Can these be made ahead and reheated.
Would these turn out okay if you didn’t mash them up?
Love this recipe and make it every year for Thanksgiving now!
Just tried this to test ahead for Christmas. THIS IS THE BEST!! THANK YOU! SOOOOO delicious! I need to make a double batch though for our guests. Can I double everything and could I use a 7 quart crock in that case? Same amount of cooking time? Can’t wait to serve this with our baked ham. Thanks!
I think a half hour more would be perfect. I’m glad you liked it!
The sweet potatoes turn brown with this recipe. The key is covering them with water while cooking THEN add the sauce.